Control mechanism



1942- c. B. KURTZ CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

CYRUS B 4% I l r f ATTOPNEYfi Dec. 1, 1942. c, KURTZ 2,303,562

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CYRUS B. KURTZ ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 1, 1942 S PAT'E r OFFICE coarser. MEcpaNI sM Cyrus B. Kurtz, lakeside, Ohio Application July 15, 1940, Serial him 345,50? 8 Claims. (01. xi-4:14)

This invention relates to control mechanism for motor vehicles and is referred toias the remote control type. In motor vehicle construction it is common practice to build the transmission in as one'part integral with the engine unit and, then, mount the engine unit to oscillate and move on rubber supports inthe' frame or body unit; This practice has greatly reduced the motor vibration and impulse shocks transmitted to the body unit and passengers themselves, but this enginemnit movement has set up objectionable and dangerous whipping around of the long gear-shift le'ver which is mounted on the transmission 'andfcxthe gearhift leven' cluttering up the driver's compartment, there is usually grease and dirt on and about tn; lever, where it comes through the then art g up ones shoes and clothing.

The contra ing member is usually a small lever conveniently positioned for the drivers hand movements and the controlled member is usually another small lever or in some cases two small leversunder the car floor and mounted on the transmission or engine unit at some distance from the controlling member. In the case of some vehicles with rear engined power, these control members are more widely separated.

Now, consider gear-shifting in itself. The conventional sliding gear transmission requires shift movements intwo-approximately parallel arcs or paths; it further requiresselection or cross-over from one are or path to the other path while the gears are in neutral positions. The only way to find or know neutral positions, gear positions or anything else about shifting is by the ,feel. This feelfin gear shifting,waseasy enough with the old type gear-shift lever, but with certain "remote control types much if not all sense of "feel at the operators controlling lever is lost.

In order to have this "feel at its best inthe remote control typegear-shift where the engine unit moves freely with respectto the vehicle frame and body unit, itis advisable to interpose U. S. Patent No. 2,071,348, or in my U. S; patent application Serial No. 127,011, filed Feb. 23, 1937, to eliminate the effects of the involuntary engine movement relative 'to the body unit and permit the controlling 'member to move the controlled member freely with uniform travel and even pres- The feel of a free and easy cross-over from the low-reverse shifting are or path to the second-third shifting arc or path is desirable for good shifting. It is also desirable to avoid the use of parts. sliding throughsupporting bearings or shifting levers and bearings requiring perfect alignment and costly accuracy in manufacture.

In the present production of ,motor vehicles there are many remote controls in which much or all sense of the "feel is lost, due to the sliding of shafts along their axes through bearings,"the sliding of flexible shafts through casings and the connecting up of links at bad angles for working pressures and motor movements.

For the purpose of illustrating and describing my invention I'will show it in connection with a steering column; at least the upper point of support being on the steering column, the'lower point of support may be on the steering column, the frame or even floated with respect to the steering column and held in working position with a link' connection to motor, as shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,071,348. e

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a control mechanism of the remote control type in which the controlling member transmits to the operator's hand practically the same feel asin the controlled member or members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a control mechanism having a rotatable main shaft free to move substantially along its axis without sliding through bearings or other unnecessary entanglements. I

A'ftirther object of this invention is to provide a control mechanism adapted to operate a single link for selection and shifting with the cross-over parts located at or in the transmis-v sion, or adapted to operate two links with the vide a control mechanism having a mainshaft carried controlling lever mounted to rotate abciut the axis of a supporting fulcrum member and also swingabout an axis which is transverse to a compen ating connection, such as shown inmy 66 the axis of the fulcrum member to move said A further object of this invention is to providq a control mechanism having a main shaft pivot-1 ally connected at its top end to a memberjodf nalled on the steering column and at its bottom end journalled in a member pivotally connected to the steering colummxboth of the fabove pivot connections arranged to permit main shaft axial movements along its axis of rotation.

Further objects and advantages-of this invention will become apparent as; the description proceeds, reference being made to the drawings wherein I have illustrated certain preferred forms of my invention, andin which:

Figs. 1, 3 and 5 are views in side elevation showing three types of my gear shifts attached to steering columns and link connected .to transmissions.

member I8, which has a horizontal pivot connection I1 to the frame bracket I8.

The lower portion of the J member I4, which extends inwardly toward the engine unit 22 and terminates with a threaded end in the cross block I casting I9, serves as the actual shifting lever and is connected by means of the link 28 to the ball lever 2| in the transmission 22. This link and ball lever construction .is shown in my U. 5. Patent No. 2,071,348 and my co-pending U. S. patent application Serial No. 127,011, flied Feb.

When J member I4 swings about its upright axis in bearing I8, it moves link 28 fore and aft to shift gears, and when J member I4 in bearing 18. swings about the pivot connection I'l it rotates link for selection or cross-over, while Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 4 is an enlarged sectional view line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6, is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5. I

taken Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view takenon line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectionalview taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5. I v Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the tubular main shaft I in Fig. 1 is mounted generally parallel to the steering column I0, and carries at its top end a controlling member 4, see Fig. 2, pivoted at 8 to the main shaft extension 8. This extension 8 is preferably welded integral with the tubularmain shaft I and is of an inverted U- section, forming a guide in which the controlling on line 9-4 member 4 pivots up and down about the point 8.

The inner ball 8 of the controlling-member 4 lies substantially in the axis of the main shaft I8. This fulcrum plug 3 may rotate ,on the thread a of the screw I2 when the main shaft carried controlling member 4 is rotated,,or it;niay be rigidly fixed to. the steering column I8 provided the cross hole I is chamferedenough and properly positioned to permit .the inner ballend 8 of the controlling member 4 to rotate without side interference in the cross hole I whenthe controlling member 4 rotates the mainshaftl through the necessary are for shifting.

The spring 9 reacts againstthe plug 3 tending to urge the shaft I downwardly. 1

The bottom end of the main shaft I prefer: ably has a bent end 2 with a free rotating thread gears are in neutral positions.

. With the assembly as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 9, when the .buter end'of the controlling member 4 is in down position in plane of the main shaft I and cross-over spring 9 is extended, then the J member I4 is swung counter-clockwise about pivot I1 and the outer end of the ball. lever 2| is raised; so that the second-third shift, may be accomplished by rotating the controlling member4 .about the axis of the main shaft II When outer end of. the controlling member} isi n up position in plane of the main shaft ,I an'd the cross-over spring 9 is compressed, then 'J inei'nber I4'is swung clockwise about pivot I'I amflthe outer end of ball lever 2| is lowered so thatthe first-reverse shift may be accomplished byrotating controlling member 4 about axis hi the main shaft I. J

In Fig. 1, the J member I4 is shown.with,,'the lower lever end in the cross block casting I8 bent, to the right for the sake of making" the drawing more easily comprehendedl Inlflig". 9 the lower lever endin cross block casting?" is in a better neutralfposition to split the shift travel each side ,of center; howeve many J members are'actually in use, bent back as in Fig. 1, to avoid interference exhaust manifolds on certain V-type engi,

The above described gears 'i'ring,a '$ingle continuous connection from that, and 't o the cross-over within the transmission; has the advantage of ,lower cost, better cross-over and cross-over alignment without link adjustments, and is free from outside tampering and locking up of gears, as common in the two-lever I .the link 81. "The lower end of the main shaft hearing in the cross block casting I3, which .is

pivoted to the clevis upper end of J-lver l4.

This J-lever I4 is carried in an upright bearing 8| is slidably and rotatably carried in the cast bearing 88. The stamping '12 holds the shifting levers 88 and 88 in plac adjacent the casting 88 The controlling member 84, more clearly shown in Fig. 4, ispivotedwithin the tubular side extension of the main shaft- 8| at 88. The

inner ball end 88 lies; substantially in the axis of the main shaft H and ,seats in the cross hole 81 of. the fulcrum plug 83. The fulcrum plug The compression spring 59 reacts against the bottom of the fulcrum plug shaft downward. V

When the outer end of the controlling member 54 is in the down position in plane of the main shaft 5|, the cross-over spring 59 is extended, the main shaft 5| is downward alongits axis and the driving pin 64 clutches shift lever 65. Now, swinging the controlling member 54 about'axis of the main shaft 5|, causes shifting into second andithird gears. When the gears arein neutral positions andthe notches in the shift levers 85 and B8 are lined up sothat the driving pin 54 may engage either notch, then an upward movement ofthe outer end of the controlling member 54in plane of the main shaft 5| causes main shaft 5| to move upward along its axis and'the driving pin 64 to clutch the shifting lever 68. Now; swinging the controlling member 54 about the axis o'f the main shaft 5| causes shifting into first and reverse gears.

In Fig. 5 the main shaft 8| ismounted'generally parallel to the steering column 90. It rotates for shifting gears and moves alongv its axis for selection or cross-over.

58 to force themain oted to the fulcrum plug 83 at point 88and piv-' oted to the bent end of the main shaft 8| at point 85. The fulcrum plug 83 is'threaded into.

the fixed steering column bracket-91. With this mounting for the upper end of the main shaft 8|, the movements of the controlling'member 84 The controlling member 84, see Fig. 6, is a hollow stamping piv-'v 6, '7 and 8 is a cheaper construction but lacks-the clean-cut appearance of the tubular shaft type.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described .in considerable detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and" adaptations of my invention" to other uses can bemade withoutdepart ing from the spirit and scope thereof. It is,

T therefore, to be understood that my invention' is not limited to the specific disclosures herein, or in "any manner otherithan by: the appended claims when given the range of equivalentsto I v Y which my patent may be entitled shaft connections between said controlling memher and said controlled member including an arm fixed on said shaft operatively connected to a mid portionof said controlling member where'- by the travel of the controlling member produces corresponding travel in th'e controlled member and means rotatably supported on said column and supporting'said shaft and supporting said controlling member forrpivotal movement about 1 one end thereof on a pair of closely adjacent axes, one of'sai'd axes'being in substantial alignment 'with'the axisof the shaft'a'nd the other of said axesbeirig transverse to the axis of the 2. In combination-with-a steering column, a

slidably and rotatably mounted main shaft having a side "extension rigidtherewith, a fulcrum column permitting alignment with said shaft, 40

tion in the flexibly mounted'bearing 98 carried in the stamping 92 which is pivoted to the steering column 90 at the fixed pivot-point 93. This stamping 92 has a lever extension 92A con nected to the forward end of the cross-over link 94 and the rear end of the cross-over link 94 is connected to the cross-over lever 95 on the transmission 96. Referring to Fig;-8, it is seen that the stamping 92 is sturdily pivotedonaxis shaft 8| cannot move laterally.

When the outer end of the controlling member 84 is in the down position in plane of the main shaft 8|, then the main shaft is'in the down position along its axis and the stamping 92 is slightly rotated counter-clockwise about the pivot point 93 and'the' cross-over lever 95 pushed counter-clockwise to select second-third shift elements in the transmission 964 Now.

sion 98. Now, swinging the controlling member I 84 around the axis of the main shaft 8| causes shifting to first or reverse gears.

The solid rod main shaft 8| shown in 93 to the steering column 98 so that the main I Figs. 5,

member in substantial alignment with said main shaft and rotatably mounted on said steeringcolumn'and'supporting said shaft and having freedom of movement relative to saidsteering a -controlling member operatively connected to saidside extension ata' point spaced from the axis of 'saidshaft and operatively connected-t0 said fulcrum member, said controlling member adapted to swing with said main shaft side extension about the main shaftaxis of rotation to'rotate said main shaft, and being pivotally movable about its pointofconnection With said fulcrum'member about an axis transverse to and closely adjacentto said shaft axis. of. rotation whereby to impart longitudinal motion to saidv shaft through the said'side extension thereof; 3. Ina controlling mechanism, a fulcrum plug pivotally mounted on a'steeringcolumn with its axis generally-parallel to the steering column,

controlling member adapted'to swing about an axis closely adjacent to and transverse to the fulcrum plug axis and also swing about. the

I fulcrum plug axis, connections between said controlling member, fulcrum plug and main shaft, including an arm fixed at one end to said main shaft and operatively connected at its other end to amid portion, of said controlling member whereby said controlling member moves said main shaft substantially along and rotates it about said fulcrum plug axis. l

4. In a control mechanism including a steering column, a controlling member, a transmission having a controlled member, said controlling member mounted to pivot about its inner end on a pair of closely adjacent transverse'axes with its outer actuating end having an H-travel for selecting gear shifting elements and shifting same; means including a rotatable and'axially movable shaft and an operative connection to said controlled member 'whereby the H-travel of said controlling member is'proportionally'reproduced at-the outer end of said controlled member,.-and means supporting the end of said shaftv adjacent said. controlling member interposed between saidsteering column and said shaft. and rotatable with-said shaft and with the axis of rotation of said shaft to rotate said shaft and whereby to permit relative angular movement between said am and said lever transverse to the direction of said rotary movement to movesaid shaft longitudinally.

7. A remote control gear shifting-and selecting mechanism for a transmission having instru-e respect to said steering: column and supported on said steering columnwitn freedom to be selfaligning with said shaft;

, 5. A control'me'chanism in combination with a steering column and shifting elements, a controlling, member, acontrolled member mounted remote from said controlling membea'means whereby said controlling member iactuates said controlled member, to'seleot shifting elements and -shift same, comprising a :slidably and rotatably mounted main :shaft adjacent steering column and connecting means between said shaft and said controlled member, and 'means rotate ably supported on said. steering column and sup rotatably to transmit longitudinal :and.rotaryforce and motion, a fixed support, adjacent one end of said shaft, an arm, extending laterally from said end of saidshaft in fixed relation thereto with the endof the arm spaced from the axis of said shaft, a lever-extending transversely of said 'shaft' adjacentsaid arm with its inner end disposed adjacent the axis of rotation-of said shaft and its outer end lying beyond the end of said arm remote from the-axis of, rotation,

of said shaft, and means rotatably associated mentalities to be controlled from a steering column comprising a.- main shaft adapted to be moved longitudinally and rotatably to transmit longitudinal and rotary force and motion, a fixed support carried by' said column adjacent one end of ,said shaft, an arm extending, laterally from said end of said shaft in fixed relation thereto with the end of the arm spaced from the axis of said shaft, a lever extending transversely of; said shaft adjacent said arm with'it s inner endidisposed adjacent the axis of rotation of said shaft and its outer end-lying beyond the end of said arm, remote from the axis of rotation of said shaft, means rotatably, associated with said fixed support and supporting said main shaft and supporting the said inner end ofsaid lever as a fulcrum constrained against substantial movement toward or away from the axis of rotation of saidshaft and from substantial movement inthedirection of said axis'relative to said, fixed support, the end of said arm being operatively connected with a mid-portion of said lever wherebyto move rotatably therewith about .thev axis of rotation of said shaft to rotate said shaft and whereby to permit relative angular "movement between said am and said lever transverse to the direction of said rotary movement tov move-said shaft longitudinally," and means ,for transmitting force and I motion from said shaftto said instrumentalities,

.8.In a remote control mechanism, a.controlling member and, a controlled member, actuating connections between said members comprising, a fixed support, a rotatable and slidable shaft with an integral side arm, a'connection from said shaft toqsaid controlled member, said side arm associated with saidcontrolling memberflto transmit torque and having its outer end pivoted to a mid portion of saidrcontrolling member to transmit longitudinal movement to said with said fixed support and supporting said main shaft and supporting the said inner endof-said lever as a fulcrum constrained against substantial movement toward or away from the axis ,of rotation of said shaft'and from substantial movement in the direction of said/axis relative to said fixed support, theend of said armbeing operatively connected with a mid-portionof said lever whereby to move rotatably therewith about shaft, a rotatable fulcrum connection between said fixed support and said shaft and the inner end of-said controlling member restraining the latter to swing on its inner end about two closely adjacentaxes, one of said axes being in substantial alignment with said transverse thereto.

' CYRUS B. KUR'I Z.

shaft and the other 

